Furnace-retort



C. H. SMITH AND E. B. EDWARDS.

FURNACE RETORT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31,4919.

Patented May 9, 192

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ATTORNEYS C. H. SMITH AND E. B. EDWARDS.

FURNACE RETORT.

APPLICATION FILED MAYSI, I919.

1 A1 5,06 1 Patented May 9, 11922.

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APPI XCATION FILED MAY 31, 1919; v 1,415,061 Patented May 9, 1922.

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INVENTORSA Mfl my A TTORNEYS C. H. SMITH AND E. B. EDWARDS.

FURNACE RETORT.

APPLICATION man MAY 31 e 4 .2 5 %M W W5 M a m Q a W 4 MM 5 w W 4 v M n W Tm" mm .li M m wi t w m m M m 8 f t i J m o w v 3 6 5 5 4| A! EHV 5 5 \I 7 z 4 4 /r I 4 r 6 4r 6 4r 4! 4w 4! 4r 47 47 4! A 6 m m5u U /\%\JCCg KMw 4 \I v E V y 11 w 1| A 1L Q Q a 7 m 5 v 4 M 2 4 5 A v 1 1 A V A O A\V m w 0w vv 7 m =1 5 l f" 1 5 an 6 4 E. 1 a 1i CHARLES HOWARD SMITH, OF SHORT HILLs AND EDWARD B. EDWARDS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO INTERNATIONAL COAL PRODUCTS CORPO- RATION, 0F RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

FURNACE-REPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1922.

Application filed May 31, 1919. Serial no. 300,963. 4

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES H. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and EDWARD B. EDWARDS, a subject of the King of England, (who has forsworn his allegiance to said country and has taken oath declaring his intention of becoming a citizen of the United States,) and residents, respectively, of Short Hills, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, and of East Orange, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Furnace-Retorts, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a combined furnace and retort frequently referred to as a furnace-retort.

The furnace-retort which is the basis of the present invention has been designed for effecting a partial distillation or partial carbonization of coal in order to eliminate a part of the volatile hydrocarbon content in the coal and in order to obtain a uniform but partially distilledcoal residue.

In the furnace-retort the retort proper is constructed so as to have a vertically extending tubular inner wall or retort shell within which the carbonizing operation is performed. The coal tobe treated is-fed into the upper portion of the retort shell and the coal residue is discharged from the lower portion. tubular wall or retort shell 'means constructed so as to insure and control the downward passage of the coal or charge within the retort. During the carbonizing operation the volatile products, to wit, the vapors and gases driven off, are withdrawn from the upper portion of the retort; The means for insuring and controlling the downward passage of the coal through or' a relatively large diameter and hollow so as to provide the large diameter without There is also within the unduly increasing'the weight of the shaft. As a result of this hollow shaft construction there is left within the retort only a relatively narrow. space for the coal or charge being treated, whereby only a thin layer of.

material-to wit the coal bein carbonizedextends along the interior 0 the inner wall or retort shell, thus obtaining a quick and relatively uniform distillation.

Where a pair of shafts is used the shafts are preferably arranged so that the outwardly extending members on one shaft overlap the outwardly extending members on the comp-anion shaft. The overlapping outwardly extending members serve to a 'tate or mix the material as it is assing ownwardly through the retort, tl fey insure the conveying of the material, and the spirals thereof control the passage of the material through the shell.

The furnace-retort which is the subject of the present invention is particularly'useful, for example in performing the heating of coal to reduce the volatile content of the coal, as described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,177 ,727 granted April 4, 1916, or for performing the initial or preliminary heating as described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,276,429 granted August 20,1918.

The invention isdirected tothe features above referred to as wellas to-other features hereinafter set forth in detail and clearly pointed out. I

As showing certain specific embodiments of the invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which drawings- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a furnace-retort and is a view taken as on-the planes indicated by the broken line 1-1 of Figure 2looking in the direction of the arrows. The furnace-retort is shown in Figure 1 as having a vertically extending tubular inner wall or retort shell with means at the upper end for feeding coal into the retort shell and means at the lower end for conveying the coal residuum'from the interior. The inner retort shell is also shown as being surrounded by masonry providing a series of vertically arranged combustion spaces on the exterior of the retort shell. Vithin the shell there is a pair of hollow [it i shafts each carrying outwardly extending members, to wit, spirals, exten ing the full length of the hollow portions of the shafts and the shafts are'arranged so that the outwardly extending members overlap. There is also indicated means in said figure for causing the shafts to revolve; also piping for conducting gases and vapors from the upper interior portion of the retort shell to a hydraulic main.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view wherein furnace-retorts are shown in battery arrangement. The furnace-retort at the upper end of the figure shows a sectional plan of the furnace-retort shown in Figure 1 and is a view taken as on the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1 look ing in the direction of the arrows. The two other furnace-retorts are sectional plan views of the furnace-retort shown in Figure 3 and are views taken as on the lane indicated by the line 22 of Figure 3 00king in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a furnace-retort similar in its construction to the furnace-retort shown in Figure 1. In Figure 3 only the lower part of the outwardly extending members on the shafts is shown in spiral form, the major part of the'outwardly extending members on the shafts being in the form of outwardly extending arms or paddles arranged so that the arms or paddles on one shaft cooperate with and overlap the arm or paddles on the other shaft. This figure is a sectional view taken as on the planes indicated by the broken line 3-43 of Figure 2'looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view of a furnace-retort similar in many respects to that shown in Figure 1 or in Figure 3 but differing somewhat as to the construction of the furnace portions. Figure 4 is a view taken as on the planes indicated by the broken line 4% of Figure 5 lookin in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a horizontal-sectional view taken as on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and particularly to the furnace-retorts shown in Figures 1 and 2-and it is here remarked that much of the description applies to the construction shown in Figure 3 and to the construction shown in Figure 4-1 indicates the retort proper and 2 the furnace proper. The retort has a vertical longitudinally extending tubular inner wall or retort shell 3 of any suitablematerial capable of withstanding heats to which retorts of this type are subjected. At the upper end of the tubular inner wall construction there is a headt through which there extend shafts 5 each shaft having an neraoei low portion'of each shaft carries outwardly extending members '2 which in the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2 are embodiedin a single spiral extending the full length of the hollow portion. The spiral on one of the shafts may be designated as a righthanded spiral while the spiral on the companion shaft may be designated as a left: handed spiral; in other words, the spirals are of opposite hand and the shafts are arranged so that the adjacent portions of the spirals overlap and the spirals cooperate in a manner so that as the shafts rotate each portion of the spiral serves to engage the material in a dwell or in a space .between adjacent convolutions of the companion spiral. Suitable means 8 is provided for feeding the .coal to be carbonized into the upper interior portion of the retort. This feeding means 8 comprises a hopper 9 and an enclosing screw-conveyer 10. Suitable discharging mechanism 11 is at the lower end of the retort and this comprises a sealed screw-conveyer 12 that can be and is relied upon to effect a transfer and discharge of' the material from the receiving portion 13 at the lower interior portion of the retort, and suitable conveying means, as tubular conveyers 14c and 15, is indicated. These conveyers may be what is known as steamjet conveyers, or what is known as pneumatic conveyers; or, one may be a steamjet conveyer and the other a pneumatic conveyer, but any other suitable conveyer can be used. Ahopper, such as sealed hopper 16, is shown in association with the tubular conveyers and serves as the means whereby the material discharged from the retort is delivered to the conveying means. The screw-conveyer 12 feeds the material being discharged into an upper portion 17 of the hopper and the material is allowed or caused, as by opening ofa valve at 18, to drop into the lower portion of the hopper. During this travel of the discharged material it is preferably maintained in an air-tight or gastight construction. The material passes from the hopper into one of the conveyers, for example let, when the latter is operated and when a corresponding valve 19 is raised.

' The tubular inner wall or retort shell is.

pipes 22, and air for supporting combustion enters through openings controlled by dampers 23. The products of combustion pass from the combustion spaces 21 through openings 24: controlled by dampers 25 into a vertically extending waste gas duct 26 leading downward to a horizontally extending waste gas duct 27. Openings 28 are provided whereby rods can be employed to position the dampers 25. The openings 28 are normally closed in any suitable manner. The furnace-retort is supported upon a suitable foundation. At the sides of the furnace-retort uprights 29 are employed to serve the usual function of buck-stays and at the upper ends of the uprights crossmembers 30 are carried that in turn carry bearing members 31. A gear 32 is secured to the upper end of each shaft 5 and these gears 32 cooperate to cause the shafts to turn in unison but in opposite directions. The under face 33 of each 'ear rests upon the upper face of the bearlng member 31 providing a thrust bearing for taking care of the vertical downward thrust of the shafts; in other words, the shafts are carried and supported by these thrust bearings-in efi'ect independently of and above the furnace-retortstructure. The lower end of each shaft is held or guided by a bearing member 34. Suitable packing is inserted, as at 35, about each shaft so as to maintain a tight joint between the head on one hand and its corresponding shaft on the other. A hydraulic main is designated by 36 and there is provided a piping 37 extending from the upper portion of the tubular inner wall or retort shell 3 for conducting, from the upper interior portion of the retort shell, gases and vapors given off during a carbonizing operation.

The furnace-retort illustrated in vertical elevation in Figure 1 is shown also in horizontal sectional View in the upper portion of Figure 2, as has been previously pointed out. In Figure 2 it will also be seen that each of the combustion spaces 21 is subdivided by vertically extending partitions 38, 39 into smaller combustion spaces 21 and 21*. In

Figure 2, taken in conjunction with Figure 1, it will also be noted that in each of the combustion spaces 21 and even in each half thereof, to wit, in combustion spaces 21 and 21", there is provided a vertically extending baffle plate 40 located between the tubular inner wall or shell on the one hand and the place where the fuel and air enter on the other, and more particularly where the heat of combustion is the most intense, whereby the baflle plates 40 protect the inner wall or shell against the intense heat at this place.

1t will also be observed from Figure 2 that the vertically extending inner wall or retort shell is in cross-section the form of a modified 8 in other words, this cross-section is of such a character that each half thereof is in the form of a lobe. It will also be noted that one'of the shafts is in one of the lobes and that the other shaft is in the other lobe.

The furnace-retort shown in Figure 3 and in the lower part of Figure 2 is the same as that shown in Figure 1 and the upper portion of Figure 2, with the exception that instead of having a spiral member extending the full length of the hollow portion of the shaft 6 there is a spiral only at the lower part of each shaft, to wit, the right and left handed spirals, each designated by 41 in Figure 3. The outwardly extending members along the major portion of the hollow shaft 6 are in the form of outwardly extending arms or paddles designated as 42. The outwardly extending memers on one of these shafts, to wit arm 42 and spiral 41, overlap with the corresponding outwardly extending members on the companion shaft. Except as just indicated, the description supplied in connection with the construction shown in Figure 1 applies to the construction shown' in Figure 3, the same reference characters being used in each instance, and hence fur- 'ther amplification thereof at this time is unnecessary.

Figure 4 shows a furnace-retort construetion wherein the retort construction of Figure 1, or the retort construction of Figure 3 which is similar to that in Figure 1, is or may be employed, the retort construction of Figure 1 being that which is illustrated in Figure 4. The same reference characters apply and have been applied to the parts which are the same in the construction illustrated in Figure 1 and in Figure 4 and further description of said parts and the func tion thereof are considered unnecessary.

The construction illustrated in vertical section in Figure 4 and in horizontal section in Figure 5 has a number of superposed vertically arranged combustion spaces 43 constituting a series of combustion spaces arranged along the retort shell 3. These combustion spaces have been provided by the masonry construction 44 having the horizontal and transverse partitions 45 that extend inward toward the retort shell 3. A homogeneous mixture of proportioned gas and 11 air is forced tangentially into the combustion spaces which in Figure 5 are shown as circular and by this construction and due to; the manner of projecting the gas and air' into the combustion chamber the products of combustion are caused to travel in .a circular path about the retort shell. The products of combustion then leave the combustion spaces 43, as through openings 46 left between the tubular inner wall or retort shell and the partitions 45,'and finally pass from the furnace-retort through a discharge .passageway, as 47. v a

In the forms of furnace-retort shown and described the retorts are constructed so that the ingress of air and egress of gases are pre vented, so that the fuel can be supplied as desired, so that the coal carbonized thereinto wit, the coal residuumc anbe readily removed, and so that the vapors and gases given offduring the carbonizing can be withdrawn. The outwardly extending overlapping members on the shafts shown, as for example in Figures 1, 3 and 4t, serve to agitate ormix the coal or material being treated, as it passes downwardly through the retort. The outwardly extending members also insure a downward passage of the material through or along the interior of the retort and the spirals of the outwardly extending members-control the downward passage of the material; in other words, under some conditions the spirals serve to check or retard too fast a flow or passage of the material through the retort while under other conditions they serve to facilitate the downward passage of the material.

It will also be noted that the outwardly extending members can be relied upon to efiect a removal of any masses of material tending to collect andadhere to the shafts and thus prevent a clogging of the retort. The shafts-have been provided with what may be referred to as an enlarged hollow body portion with the result that relatively shallow or narrow spaces are left for the coal being treated and in this manner the heat has access to all portions of the coal.

The coal treated within the retort may be subjected to temperatures approximating 850 degrees F. to 1200 degrees F. and the tubular inner wall or retort shell should be constructed so as to withstand and transmit the heat necessary for this purpose. Several materials may be used for this purpose, as carborundum, semi-steel, or any other suitable material Each shaft turns in the direction indicated by the arrows A corresponding thereto, viz., the shafts turn in directions whereby the. spirals would force the material downwardly should the material hang in the retort. The movement however is slow enough to insure the retention of a charge in the retort.

lln the several forms of construction herein shown it will be observed, as from an inspection of Figures -1, 3 and 4, that each shaft carrying the outwardly extending members passes through the upper head of the retort in which the shaft is located and is supported above and in effect independently of the retort head. The supporting ofifich shaft, independently of the head, is one feature of the invention, but it will be readily appreciated that other features of the invention can be embodied in a construction which does not necessarily employ such type of support.

Other phases of the infventzion involve such things as the vertically extending shafts with outwardly extending-members thereupon and which shafts are arranged so that the outwardly extending members on one shaft overlap and cooperate with the ammer providing a series of superposed combustion chambers arranged along the retort shell.

It will be manifest that the construction herein shown can be modified in many respects without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: I

1. A furnace-retort the retort of which has an externally heated vertically extending retort shell with vertically extending shafts therein carrying outwardly extending members, the shafts being arranged so that the outwardly extending members on one shaft cooperate with the outwardly extendingmembers on the other shaft, means for rotating the shafts, means for feeding coal to the interior of the upper portion of the retort shell, and means for conducting the coal when sufficiently carbonized from the lower portion of the retort shell, the outwardly extending members being constructed so as to cause the coal being treated to be gradually passed from the charging end of the retort shell to the discharging end thereof but so as to prevent the coal from passing through the retort at a faster rate than desired.

2. A furnace-retort the retort of which has a vertically extending shell with vertically extending shafts therein carrying outwardly extending members and the furnace of which has a combustion chamber on the exterior of said shell, the shafts being arranged so that the outwardly extending members on one shaft cooperate with and overlap the outwardly extending members on the other shaft, means for rotating the shafts, means for feeding coal to be carbonized to the interior of the upper portion of the shell, means for conducting from the upper interior portion of the shell gases and vapors which are driven of from the coal during the carbonizing operation, and means whereby the carbonized coal is passed from the lower portion of the shell, the outwardly extending members having spirals that are constructed and arranged so as towithin the retort shell and has a spiral flight, particularly within the lower interior portion of the retort shell, means for feeding coal to the upper interior portion of the retort shell, means at the upper portion of the retort shell for Withdrawing gases and vapors therefrom, and means whereby there is caused or permitted a discharge of coal from the lower portion of the retort shell.

4. A furnace-retort which comprises a vertical retort shell that is exteriorly heated, a vertically extending shaft within the shell but supported in effect independently of the shell, which shaft carries a spiral flight extending along it, means for feeding coal to the upper interior portion of the retort shell, and means whereby there is caused or permitted a discharge of carbonized coal from the lower interior portion.

5. A furnace-retort the retort of which comprises a vertically extending shell having an upper head,- means for feeding material to the upper interior portion of the shell, a vertically extending shaft passing through said head which shaft has a bearing support above and independent of the head and also has a spiral flight serving as part of a means on the shaft for controlling the downward passage of the material, means for rotating said shaft, means for causing or permitting a discharge of material from the lower interior portion, a masonry structure on the exterior of said shell and providing a combustion space or spaces along the shell, and means for supplying fuel and air to said combustion space or spaces.

6. A furnace-retort which comprises a vertically extending retort shell, a vertically extending hollow shaft with a spiral flight within and at the lower portion of the retort shell, means for rotating said shaft, means for feeding material into the upper portion of the retort shell, means for discharging material from the lower portion of the retort shell, masonry structure on the exterior of said retort shell providing a series of combustion spaces arranged along the retort shell, and controllable means for supplying fuel and air to each of said combustion spaces.

7. A furnace-retort having a vertically extending retort shell with means for exte riorly heating said wall, an upper head on said retort shell through which head shafts extend downwardly into the retort shell, sealing packing between each vshaft and the head, means providing a thrust bearing whereby each shaft is supported above the head, means for rotating the shafts, a spiral upon each shaft, which spirals cooperate and control the passage of material downwardly through the retort shell, means for feeding coal into the retort shell at the upper endthereof, and means whereby carbonized coal is discharged from the retort without permitting the entrance of any substantial amount of air to the interior of the retort.

8. A furnace-retort having a vertically extending retort shell with means for exteriorly heating it, an upper head on said retort shell through which a shaft extends downwardly into the retort shell, means providing are in the combustion space or combustion spaces, which retort is constructed so as to oppose the ingress .of air and the egress of gas and which retort comprises a vertically extending retort shell that in cross-section is in the form of a modified 8, a rotatable vertically extending shaft in each lobe of the 8, and outwardly extending members on each shaft arranged so that the outwardly extending members on one shaft overlap those on the other shaft, there also being provided piping leading from the upper or feed end of the retort for conducting away gases and vapors.

10. A furnace-retort having a structure providing the furnace proper with a combustion space or combustion spaces and a retort which is exteriorly heated by products of combustion that are in the combustion space or combustion spaces in the furnace, the retort being constructed so as to oppose the ingress of air and the egress of gas and comprising in combination a vertically ex tending retort shell which in cross-section is in the form of a modified 8, and a pair of rotatable vertically extending'shafts, one of said shafts being in each lobe of the 8 and each having outwardly extending spiral members. a

11. A furnaca-retort having a furnace which provides a combustion space or combustion spaces and also having a retort which is exteriorly heated by products of combustion in the combustion space or combustion spaces of the furnace, which retort is constructed .so as to oppose the ingress of air and the egress of gas and comprises in combination a vertically extending retort in each lobe of the 8, an outwardly extending spiral member on each shaft arranged so that the outwardly extending spiral member on one shaft'overlaps that on the other shaft,

and means forcontrolling the discharge of material from the lower portion of the retort shell.

12. A carbonizing furnace-retort the retort of which is exteriorly heated by prod-v ucts of combustion, and which retort has a vertically extending retort shell that in crosssection is in the form of a modified 8, means for feeding coal to the interior of the retort shell, means for conducting vapors and gases from the upper interior portion of the retort cally extending retort shell shaped so as to provide two vertically extending lobe portions, in each lobe a hollow shaft carrying outwardl extending members arranged along eac shaft, which shafts are arranged so that the outwardly extending members on one overlap and cooperate with the outwardly extending members on the other, at least the overlapping members at the lower ends of the shafts being spirals, means for feeding coal into the retort shell at the upper portion thereof, means for conducting from the upper interior portion of the retort shell gases and vapors driven off from the coal while being heated therein, masonry constructed so as to provide a series of combustion spaces on the exterior of the retort shell, which combustion spaces are opposite those portions of the retort shell wherein the out w-ardly extending members are located, and means for efiecting a discharge of the coal firlofi the lower interior portion of the retort s e 14. A furnace-retort comprising in combination a vertically extending shell shaped so as to provide two vertically extending lobes, a hollow shaft in each lobe carrying outwardly extending members arranged along each shaft, which shafts are arranged so that the outwardly extending members on one of the shafts overlap and cooperate with the outwardly extending members on the companion shaft, means for feeding coal into the interior upper portion of the retort shell, means for conducting from the interior of the retort shell gases and vapors driven ofi from the coal being treated in the retort, masonry constructed so as to provide a series of combustion spaces on the exterior of the retort shell, which combustion spaces are opposite those portions of the retort shell wherein the shafts c neit er and outwardly extending members thereupon are located, closed ,means"-for conveythe coal when carbonized from the lower "ir"1.te*rior portion of the retort shell, and a hopper into which the'material discharged from the retort shell is delivered.

15. A furnace-retort for carbonizing coal therein comprising in combination a vertically extending'retort shell, shafts carrying mixing and conveying means and which shafts are located within the retort shell, means for feeding coal to the interior portion of the retort shell, means for conducting gases and vapors from the upper interior portion of the retort shell, means at the lower portion of the retort shell for effecting a discharge of the coal when carbonized, masonry on the exterior of said retort shell constructed so as to provide combustion spaces, means for supplying fuel and air to each of said combustion spaces, and vertically extending baffle plates between the retort shell on the one hand and said source of fuel supply on the other, which vertically extending bae plates are arranged so as to protect the retort shell from the intense heat where combustion takes plate.

16. A furnace-retort for carbonizing coal therein comprising in combination a vertically extending retort shell, shafts therein carrying mixing and conveying means, means for feeding coal to the interior portion of the retort, means forv conducting gases and vapors from the upper interior portion of the retort, means for efiecting a discharge of the coal when carbonized from the lower portion of the retort, masonry on the exterior of said retort constructed in a manner to provide combustion spaces, means for supplying fuel and air to each of said combustion spaces, and a, vertically extending bame plate between.the,'retort shell on the one hand and each source of fuel supply on the other. P f

17. A furnace-retort for'carbonizing coal therein characterized by having a, vertically extending retort shell with combustion spaces arranged one above the other and exteriorly of the retort shell and by having means for supplying fuel to the interior of said combustion spaces and vertically extending baflle plates between' the places where combustion takes place and the retort shell.

18. A carbonizing furnace-retort having a vertically extending retort shell with mixing and conveying means therein constructed so as to control the passage of material downwardly through the retort shell, means for feeding coal to the upper interior portion of the retort shell, means for conducting gases and vapors from the upper interior ortion of the retort shell, means for efiecting a discharge of carbonized material from. the lower interior ortion of the retort shell,

masonry surrounding said retort shell and constructed so as to'prov'i'de aseries of superposed'combustion spaces, means at one side of the furnace-retort for supplying fuel and air to each of said combustion spaces,

and dampers at the other side of the furnaceretort for controlling the flow of the products of combustion from the combustion interior portion of the retort-shell, -means for conducting gases and vapors from the upper interiorportion of the retort shell,

means for effecting adischarge of carbon-' 'ized material from the lower interior portion of retort shell, masonry surrounding said retort shell and constructed so as to provide a series of combustion spaces, means for supplying a regulated amount of fuel and air to each combustion space,and dampers for controlllng the How ofthe products of combustion from each combustion space.

Thisspecification signed the 23rd day of May A. D. 1919.

EDWARD -B. EDWARDS.

CHARLES HOWARD SMITH. 

